Understanding Themes in 'Night John'

The transcript is a narrative about the life of a young girl on a plantation, her connection to Night John, and her experiences growing up in a world of slavery. It highlights her quiet nature, her family history, and the separation from her birth mother. The story also emphasizes the importance of listening, learning, and memory in her life.

Who is the book 'Night John' dedicated to?

• The narrator

• Night John

• Thomas Jefferson

• Sally Hemmings

What is the main reason the slaves refer to Waller with derogatory terms?

• He oppresses them with violence

• He is kind to them

• He is their friend

• He gives them gifts

How does the narrator describe their own intelligence?

• As quiet but observant

• As uninterested in learning

• As very talkative

• As loud and disruptive

Why was the narrator's birth mother sold?

• She was a poor worker

• She was a good breeder

• She was too old

• She wanted to leave

Who raises the children of the slaves?

• The house women

• Old Deli

• Their birth mothers

• The slave master

How do the slaves track the age and readiness for breeding?

• By using a calendar

• By counting birthdays

• By cutting notches on sticks

• By asking the master

What does the narrator do in their spare time?

• Works in the fields

• Sleeps all day

• Listens and learns from conversations

• Plays with other children

Where does the narrator often overhear conversations?

• In the slave quarters

• In the master's house

• In the fields

• In the flower beds below the big window

What is the significance of the flower bed in the story?

• It is where the narrator sleeps

• It is where the narrator works all day

• It is where the narrator plays

• It is where the narrator first heard about Night John

What does the narrator do at the end of each day?

• Writes in a journal

• Talks to other slaves

• Reflects on what they have learned

• Goes to sleep immediately